Friday, May 25, 2018

Tomb Raider's 2014 GDC audio presentation surfaces online

Author:
H4RR7H

Following a live orchestra performance conducted by Jason Graves, Crystal Dynamics audio designers Jack Grillo & Alex Wilmer presented at the Game Developers Conference in 2014. GDC has only just published this video today, May 25th, 2018, and it's a long but fascinating watch.

Grillo opens by talking sound effects, and from timestamp 24:18, Wilmer demonstrates the implementation of music in the franchise video game reboot of Tomb Raider (2013). He elaborates in-depth on the Tomb Raider overture as created by composer Jason Graves, and how referencing this influenced the creation of in-game music suites and the dynamic micro-scoring of action scenes.

Wilmer continues by breaking down the traversal of scoring the game - from Lara Croft opening a door, to fighting in combat with triggered layers of music, even when combat is instead avoided altogether. Percussion, sparse notes and stingers accentuate every player experience, with every piece of music in the game serving a purpose. Wilmer also talks about Graves' custom-made "The Instrument".